Patent GB-410746-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to gramophones or like musical instruments
IPC: G11B17/02
Filed: 1932-11-15
Abstract: 410,746. Magazine gramophones. TAYLOR, W. J., 39, Sutton Street, and TAYLOR, C. A., 9, Swarcliffe Road, Darnall, both in Sheffield. Nov. 15, 1932, No. 32231. [Class 40 (ii).] Relates to magazine gramophones as described in Specification 381,682, and consists in providing a simplified construction wherein there is only one turntable, and wherein improved means for automatically reversing the records and for lowering the sound box upon a record for the commencement of playing, are embodied. The record-driving unit, comprising a motor 3, frame 4, and turntable 1, is mounted (like the corresponding units of the machine described in the said prior Specification) on a shaft 5, around which the turntable makes a complete revolution after each playing operation. The shaft is provided with a clutch 6, 7, whereby driving connection to a motor 30 is effected when necessary. Means for raising a record from the turntable and reversing it comprise two arms 64, carrying pivoted recordgripping jaws 66, the ends of which are slidable in vertical guides 77. The arms 64 are pivoted on a sleeve 67 surrounding a shaft 68, and have cranked ends 72 adapted to be engaged by pins 70 on the shaft. A weighted arm 91 Fig. 3, is linked to the shaft 68, and tends tc rotate it, the shaft being normally locked by a spring catch 74. The device for storing records and delivering them singly to the turntable during its rotation around the shaft 5 is similar to that described in Specification 381,682, and comprises two parallel cylinders having helical threads which hold the records between them and feed them forward, and a cradle which transfers the records to the turntable. The machine operates as follows :-When one side of a record on the turntable has been played, a recessed plate 18 rotating with the pick-up arm 20 allows a lever 22 to move and close the circuit of the motor 30 through a switch 29. At the same time, a lever 35, moving with the lever 22, causes a forked level 38 to throw the clutch member 7 into engagement, and the shaft 5 begins to rotate. Levers 44, 57 move with the lever 35, the lever 44 effecting the raising and outward swinging of the pick-up arm (by means subsequently described), and the lever 57 sliding a rod 58 bearing a pawl which drives a ratchet-wheel 61 through the space of one tooth. This moves a second toothed wheel, on the same spindle, sufficiently to enable it to actuate a lever 63, which withdraws the catch 74 from engagement with the shaft 68. Thereupon, the weighted arm 91 rotates the shaft, which causes the arms 64 to close inwardly, so that the jaws 66 grip the record, and then to rotate with the shaft 68, so that they lift the record from the turntable. At the top of the travel of the arms 64, the shank 76 of one of the jaws 66 engages the spindle of a pinion 80, which is rotated by gearing 82, 81 co-operating with a cam 86 on the shaft 5, Figs. 1 and 3. By the rotation of the shank 76, thus effected, the record is reversed, and another cam 90 on the shaft 5 then raises the arm 91, restoring the shaft 68 to its original position. Lowering of the record by downward swinging of the arms 64 thus commences, but is temporarily stopped by one of the arms resting on a catch 93. Meanwhile, rotation of the turntable 1, frame 4, and motor 3 with the shaft 5 through 360‹ has been proceeding, the driving of the turntable with its spindle 2 having been stopped as soon as the circuit of the motor 3 has been broken at contacts 88. At the same time, bevel gearing 8, 9 driven from the shaft 5 causes the records in the magazine to be fed forward by the helical threads 16 between which they are supported, Figs. 6 and 7, but a record is not delivered to the turntable on this occasion, as the gearing is such that delivery only occurs during alternate revolutions of the shaft 5. The catch 93 is ultimately moved aside, by mechanism controlled by cams 51, 54, and allows the arms 64 to fall and to open under the action of a spring 65, so as to deposit the reversed record on the turntable, when this has completed its revolution around the shaft 5. Guides 96, against which the arms 64 slide, prevent them from opening prematurely. When the clutch member 7 has completed one revolution, it is automatically disengaged, stopping the shaft 5, and at the same time a flange 42 on the clutch member allows the contacts 29 in the circuit of the motor 30 to open. The motor circuit is, however, maintained closed by subsidiary contacts (not shown) until the rotating cam 54 has effected the lowering of the pick-up on to the record. The lever 44 is connected by links 45, 46 to a cam 47, 49, and the initial movement of the lever 44 causes rotation of the cam, whereby the raising and outward swinging of the pick-up arm 20, (already referred to), is effected. In this position the arm is retained in a fork formed between two pivoted members 100, 52<b>, Figs. 2 and 15, the part 52b being linked to a lever 52 controlled by the cams 51, 54, Fig. 1. The lowering of the pick-up on to the record occurs when the cam 54 allows the member 52b to fall, so that the pick-up arm can slide down the part 100, which is spring-controlled. The member 100 can be swung upwardly to open a switch in the circuit of the motor 30 when it is desired to operate the machine by hand. The lever 63, Fig. 1, is only effective to move the catch 74 during alternate movements of the wheel 61, so that when the switch 29 has been closed on completion of the playing of the second side of the record, the arms 64 do not operate, and the record remains on the turntable when this is swung round by the shaft 5. The record is held on the turntable by a catch 97 until the latter is disengaged by the action of a cam 99, whereupon the record drops into a receptacle. The magazine members 16 are again rotated by the gearing 8, 9, and this time they deliver a fresh record to a cradle 17 pivoted on a slide 113, Figs. 6 and 7, movements of these members being suitably controlled by cams 107, 123 and associated mechanism 109, 110, 121, 118. As the turntable reaches a certain position, the cradle transfers the record to and centres it on the turntable, and when the latter arrives again at the playing position, the cycle of operations begins afresh.